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Satisfactory Academic Progress for Undergraduates and Postgraduates

In accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Congress, NIU has established a satisfactory academic progress policy for undergraduates and postgraduates.

Federal and state financial aid programs covered by this policy are:

• Pell Grant
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• Perkins Loan
• Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
• SMART Grant
• Federal Work Study (FWS)
• Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized)
• NIU Grant
• Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP)
• Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
• certain alternative loans

The satisfactory academic progress policy is in effect for each academic year of a student’s enrollment. Satisfactory academic progress is evaluated after the completion of each spring semester. Students who have an unsuccessful term(s) will receive written notification of their current status. Evaluations are based on courses completed at NIU for the "Rate of Completion" and "Grade Point Average" requirements. NIU and transfer credits are used in the calculation of “Maximum Time Frame Requirement.”

Requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students are considered to be making satisfactory academic progress if they meet all of the following requirements:

• rate of completion requirement - complete at least 67% of credit hours attempted after 2 terms of enrollment and subsequently each academic year
  • earned A, B, C, D or P and S grades are considered completed semester hours of credit
  • withdrawals, incompletes, audits and grades of F and U are not considered completed semester hours of credit
• grade point average requirement - cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher after the spring term of enrollment and subsequently each academic year.
  • failure to maintain the grade point average requirement has implications regarding academic status - see "Academic Probation and Dismissal" in the Undergraduate Catalog
• maximum time frame requirement - fewer than 180 attempted hours of credit
  • all terms of enrollment are considered whether or not financial aid was received
  • earned A, B, C, D or P and S grades are considered
  • withdrawals, incompletes, and courses repeated are considered in calculation of hours attempted
  • audits are not included in the calculation of hours attempted

Failure to make Satisfactory Academic Progress

Failure to meet the rate of completion requirement or the grade point average requirement will result in the following:

• Students not making satisfactory academic progress at the end of the spring semester will be placed on financial aid warning and sent a letter notifying them of their financial aid warning status. Students on financial aid warning may continue to receive financial aid for the next term of enrollment.

• If the deficiency is not remedied by the end of the next spring semester, the student becomes ineligible for financial aid. The student’s awards are placed on hold, and he or she will receive a second written notification of lack of progress.

• Students may formally appeal their ineligibility for financial aid. If the appeal is approved, the student will then be awarded financial aid for another term of enrollment. If an appeal is required, the student’s SAP status will be monitored every term of enrollment.

Appeal Procedures

Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Financial Aid Office and must include a written review from the Dean of the student's major college or the Dean's designee. Note that federal regulations restrict those circumstances that may enable an appeal to be successful. The Financial Aid Office considers the student's written appeal, the dean's evaluation, and these regulations when making a final determination.